Protection of vessels against torpedoes and mines.



J. D. EHRLICH. PROTECTION OF VESSELS AGAINST TORPEDOES A ND. MINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. I917- Patented Jan. 8,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I. D. EHRLICH.

PROTECTION OF VESSELS AGAINST TORPEDOES AND MINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE I2. 1917.

Patented Jan. 8,1918. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- g 51mm to; J EA A JOHN D. EHRLICH, OF BERWICK, LOUISIANA.

PROTECTION OF VESSELS AGAINST TORPEDOES AND MINES.

essors.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 19119.

Application filed June 12, 1917. Serial No. 174,298.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J 011)? D. EIIRLICI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berwick, in the parish of Saint Mary and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protection of Vessels Against Torpedoes and Mines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in guards for intercepting torpedoes and floating mines from ships, and has for one object to provide an improved guard of this character which will be composed of a series of units adapted to be lowered to an operative position spaced from the side of a ship where such units will prevent the passage of torpedoes or floating mines to the ship; said units being hingedly supported from the side of the ship and being connected to means for raising and folding the same up against the side of the ship above the water line to an inoperative position where they will not impede the progress of the ship through the water.

Another object of the present invention resides in providing a guard for ships which, when in the lowered operative position will be held locked against accidental displacement, but which allows of the guard being drawn up readily to the inoperative position when its use is not required.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a ship shown equipped with a torpedo guard constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through one wall of a ship and illustrating the improved guard as attached thereto and occupying the operative position. I

Fig. 3 is a similar view indicating the guard in partially raised position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective new of a ship illustrating two of the guard units, one being in the operative and the other in the inoperative position; and

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational View of one of the guard units.

Referring more particularly to the drawngs, wherein one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, 1 designates the side and 2 the deck of a ship to which my iin hinges 7. Hinged connections 8 and 9 are made between the arms 1 and 5 and the respective frames 3 which they support.

Through the supporting arms a and 5 the several frames 3 are adapted to be raised and folded against the side 1 of the ship, and for this purpose any suitable means may be employed, one of such means being illustrated by the chains 10. Each chain is connected at its lower end to a frame 3, as shown at 11, and is carried upwardly therefrom over the deck 2 of the ship, at which point it may pass over a pulley 12. The chain 10 may be drawn up by hand or suitable power apparatus, as desired.

As clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the chains 10 are directed beneath the rods 13 which are connected at their opposite ends to, and form toggle centers for pairs of braces 14. and 15 connected between the ships side 1, as shown at 16, and the upper series of arms l, as indicated at 17. These braces 14: and 15, at their inner ends, carry shoulders 18 and 19 which are adapted to abut together when the frames 3 are in the lowermost position illustrated in Fig. '2, and which have the effect of locking said frames in the operative position and preventing same from being accidentally displaced upward, as by force of the waves or the impact of a torpedo or floating mine.

The abutting shoulders 18 and 19 of the braces 14 and 15, however, do not affect the raising of the guard sections from the operative to the inoperative position by the chains 10, as such chains when drawn taut will first engage the rods 13 and break the toggle joint, as shown in Fig. 3; after which the continued hauling of the chains 10 will raise the frames 3 up against the ships side 1, where they will be clear of the water.

The frames 3 may be constructed in any suitable manner to engage the torpedoes and units in either an inoperative position folded close against the ships side above the Water line or an operative position extended out from the ship and projecting below the surface to intercept torpedoes, diagonal braces having universal joint connections for said units, pairs of braces for locking said units in the operative position, rods connecting said braces and forming toggle centers for same, and means for raising said units pass ing beneath said rods to first break the toggle joint when a hoisting force is applied, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOHN D. EHRLICH.

@opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G3 

